The Singularity is Near, Kurzweil. I'm about 30 pages in, I can tell it's going to be a mind-blower. Just with him laying out his theory, I can see where quite a few sci-fi novels I've read have drawn from him.

Almost finished with Jeff Shaara's Gods and Generals. Did not like it as well as his World War II books, but perhaps that's because I've never really been that much into the Civil War. You'd think I'd enjoy it because while I sort of know the names of the battles, I don't really know any details--not even who won.

Am just about to start Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth. It's a book I really ought to like. But it came out when I was a little too old for it. But now that I am older, perhaps I am the right age for it.

About 1/4 of the way through The Clash of the Cultures: Investment vs. Speculation.

nisiprius wrote:Almost finished with Jeff Shaara's Gods and Generals. Did not like it as well as his World War II books, but perhaps that's because I've never really been that much into the Civil War. You'd think I'd enjoy it because while I sort of know the names of the battles, I don't really know any details--not even who won.

Am just about to start Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth. It's a book I really ought to like. But it came out when I was a little too old for it. But now that I am older, perhaps I am the right age for it.

About 1/4 of the way through The Clash of the Cultures: Investment vs. Speculation.

nisiprius wrote:Almost finished with Jeff Shaara's Gods and Generals. Did not like it as well as his World War II books, but perhaps that's because I've never really been that much into the Civil War. You'd think I'd enjoy it because while I sort of know the names of the battles, I don't really know any details--not even who won.

Am just about to start Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth. It's a book I really ought to like. But it came out when I was a little too old for it. But now that I am older, perhaps I am the right age for it.

About 1/4 of the way through The Clash of the Cultures: Investment vs. Speculation.

I'm currently reading Enough by John Bogle and I have to say I am loving it. Thanks to all who recommended it.

It really gives me the confidence that I am on the right path and the more I read from the great Jack Bogle the more I know my fanitical love of simplicity will be rewarded and all the new fangled products that even Vanguard keep coming out with are just a different level of noise and I will stick to my boring balanced fund and stay the course.

nisiprius wrote:Almost finished with Jeff Shaara's Gods and Generals. Did not like it as well as his World War II books, but perhaps that's because I've never really been that much into the Civil War. You'd think I'd enjoy it because while I sort of know the names of the battles, I don't really know any details--not even who won.

Regarding Civil War - North won.

When I was in elementary school, maybe second grade, My Weekly Reader--or maybe it was one of those news filmstrips the teacher sometimes showed--carried the news that the last surviving Union soldier had just died, while three Confederate soldiers still lived. Our little faces went wild-eyed with amazement, as we whispered to each other, "but that means... the South won!"

nisiprius wrote:Almost finished with Jeff Shaara's Gods and Generals. Did not like it as well as his World War II books, but perhaps that's because I've never really been that much into the Civil War. You'd think I'd enjoy it because while I sort of know the names of the battles, I don't really know any details--not even who won.

Regarding Civil War - North won.

When I was in elementary school, maybe second grade, My Weekly Reader--or maybe it was one of those news filmstrips the teacher sometimes showed--carried the news that the last surviving Union soldier had just died, while three Confederate soldiers still lived. Our little faces went wild-eyed with amazement, as we whispered to each other, "but that means... the South won!"

Currently reading "Why Smart People Make Big Money Mistakes" by Belsky & Gilovich, and "Men are like Waffles Women are like Spaghetti" by Farrel. Both books are a challenge to my day-to-day walk in this world.

Just finished Zero Day by David Baldacci, have enjoyed all his books but this one is so similar to Lee Child's character Jack Reacher. I googled the comparison and apparently many others feel the same way, almost like plagiarism. Good read though.

Just started Nature's Metropolis: Chicago and the Great West, by William Cronon. This is a history of the interrelation between Chicago and the rural areas within its orbit. The focus is on the economic interdependence between city and "country", with particular emphasis on the flow of commodities. The author acknowledges that this may sound like a very dry subject, but he has taken pains to make it interesting and accessible to the general reader. I'm only about 50 pages into it, but I'm enjoying it so far. Then again, I also like reading The Economist.

Interesting comments Bungo regarding "Nature's Metropolis: Chicago and the Great West"...I have not read this book, but a somewhat similar book is The North American Railroad, It's Origin, Evolution, and Geography by James E. Vance, Jr. I am fond of railroads and Vance's book outlined why and how railroads opened markets back in the 1800's including Chicago with the flow of raw materials into Chicago and finished materials back out of Chicago.

Regarding Lee Child...I have really come to enjoy the Reacher series.

The Drop by Michael Connolly...just finished that a couple of weeks ago. Harry Bosch is probably my favorite novel charactor.

I just discovered John Jake's historical fiction series about his fictional Kent family. As a big fan of historical fiction, I'm surprised I'm just learning about the author and his books (I know they've been around a while). This series spans from before the American Revolution to about 1890. I'm at 1845 right now, and have really enjoyed them.

"Network Nation: Inventing American Telecommunications" by Richard R. John (Belknap Press, Cambridge, MA, 2010). Exhaustive history of the implementation of the telegraph and the telephone, detailing the drama, both patent-wise and political, surrounding the growth of the US Postal system, Western Union and the Bell system up to about 1914. Chunky book at 520 pages, but am hoping there is a sequel that addresses the 20th century.

I just finished Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage by Alice Munro and Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron.

Now reading Eisenhower in War and Peace by Jean Edward Smith. Smith's previous books about John Marshall, Ulysses Grant, and FDR are amongst my favorite biographies. So far, it looks like his latest will be on that list as well.

nisiprius wrote:Almost finished with Jeff Shaara's Gods and Generals. Did not like it as well as his World War II books, but perhaps that's because I've never really been that much into the Civil War. You'd think I'd enjoy it because while I sort of know the names of the battles, I don't really know any details--not even who won.

Regarding Civil War - North won.

When I was in elementary school, maybe second grade, My Weekly Reader--or maybe it was one of those news filmstrips the teacher sometimes showed--carried the news that the last surviving Union soldier had just died, while three Confederate soldiers still lived. Our little faces went wild-eyed with amazement, as we whispered to each other, "but that means... the South won!"

I'm about a third into American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson, by Joseph J Ellis; a garage sale find, published 1996.

This book will make you re-think everything you think you know for sure about Jefferson. It's heavy on direct quotes and humorous inconsistencies in Jefferson's writings. Most important, it's fun to read.

I just finished Eisenhower in War and Peace by Jean Edward Smith. A very thorough and engaging biography, though I would have appreciated a final chapter that discussed Eisenhower's legacy and place in history rather than concluding literally at his death.

Under the Black Flag, The Romance and Reality of Life Among the Pirates by David Cordingly.A garage sale book that's too long, but OK as a lite source of anecdotes about Atlantic pirates in the early 18th century.